Whenever I refer to Pengusaha Melayu, I am not referring to any individual entrepreneur, but the community and the majority as a whole. As this is my opinions, readers are free to disagree and I welcome comments.
I intend to write as frankly as possible, hence I apologise if the manner goes against our grain as Malays. Have not doubt though that I am writing this because I love the Malays and Malaysia. I believe that Malaysia would be free from this bickering, project jostling, distrust, suspicions and prejudice if everyone have equal skill, knowledge and resourcefulness to succeed in entrepreneurship.
1. No depth in entrepreneurship knowledge
Orang melayu tidak mempunyai sejarah peniagaan yang mendalam, tidak sedalam sesetengah bangsa yang lain. This is a fact. The majority of Malays have little knowledge and skills of entrepreneurship. The culture of entrepreneurship was not there - hence the NEP (we will talk how this backfired). We do not, as a community, have a long history of entrepreneurship culture. But there is hope. In recent years, the rise of Malaysian entrepreneurs are getting more imminent; with the women leading the rise in mass entrepreneurship, in terms of numbers. The pasar malam and bazars also helped spur the growth of usahawan melayu. But because of the lack of knowledge, very few were able to lift their enterprise above the small/petty trader level. Many would be quick to blame lack of capital and government support.
I disagree. We lack knowledge and community support. Now that we know how to make a business in a small way, we must learn how to make a business in a big way - they are different models. And we need effective business networking that is both wide and deep. But rather than depending on the network for projects, we should use the network to generate ideas and collaborate.
2. The effort to empower the Malay Entrepreneur backfired
The government tried to create entrepreneurs by giving them projects. It backfired because most of these people who received the projects became 'handout-managers' not entrepreneurs. It also created a mindset that the only way to make it big, and fast is by getting government project. Very little of those that who received the projects actually use the profit to build and own resources; to be part of the value chain. And that caused many malay entrepreneurs to lack dept in their area of expertise. On top of that, the absence from the value chain weakens the community.
3. To much focus on politics, to little focus on real power
Orang Melayu ni bijak. Orang melayu dulu dulu pun bijak. Mereka mengeluarkan pepatah "Menang Sorak Kampung Tergadai". This is another dilema of the Malay Entrepreneur. Because of item 2 above, most tend to think that real wealth are really in projects from governments. We then focus too much on politics. We support people who can supposedly get us closer to getting the multi million dollar projects. Granted that some succeeded this way but the number is so small and the number of those who expended their time and money and failed are much more. Real entrepreneurs have products and is a part of the value chain. They actually produces things, regardless it being kerepek, baju kebaya, spare parts, cranes, cement and what not. Entrepreneurs are part of value chain, they control the resources. And the lesser the time, energy, effort and ideas an entrepreneur devote on politics, the more they have to devote on acquiring and building value - resources. Lobbying, getting multi million dollar project and swiftly handing it wholesomely to the sub-contractor is not entrepreneurship - it is handout-management.
4. Many forgot about the empowerment of faith
I always say this, "ramai yang percaya kewujudan dan keesaan Allah, tapi tak ramai yang yakin, have faith in the ability and the power of Allah to direct change in their lives on this earth." Memang Allah suruh kita berusaha tetapi dia mengatakan dia yang menetukan and ALLAH KNOWS BEST! Allah's ability to know and his knowledge transcends even our ability to think how knowledgeable Allah is - because we use our HUMAN brain to imagine. Ramai yang meletakkan rezeki tu kepada boss, kepada syarikat, kepada projek dan kepada produk. "I kena lobby orang ni betul betul, baru dapat projek, baru dapat duit" I have heard that so many times. That is wrong and weakens an entrepreneur as he is now placing his faith of wealth to that lobbyist and project, willing to break the laws and compromise integrity in order to achieve that goal. Don't get me wrong, lobbying is okay, so long as you do it the right way - by making sure your products and services have the values that meets the needs of the consumer; that you ensure success; that you will deliver the project in satisfactory form.
Yes, I almost hear, "Get real Yazdi, you have to grease the palm to get the job". I say, it will be that way if you think that way. Your business will be as how you wish for it. Anthony Robbins once said "Life will give you what you ask of it". If all the malay entrepreneurs puts their faith in Allah's ability and finality to determine fortune, they will not be afraid nor intimidated by the need to compromise integrity in their business. And when you are not afraid, have no fear of the worldly obstacles, then you become the ultimate entrepreneur - liberated, creative and urgent.
Assalamu alaikum M, Yazdi,
ReplyDeleteIt is not that there is a acute shortage of Malay entrepreneurs or wannabes but the government machinery/mechanism put in place has been more stifling, exploiting rather than enabling.
As an 28 years experienced and global professional who has had 4 commercial viable ideas presented hijacked by unethical private & government officials who pass it on to their connections for their own vested interest, the current Malay entrepreneurs are faced with a need for "who you know rather than what you know" to become a successful entrepreneur.
Malays/Muslims in approving positions have forgotten to adhere to Allah SWT's "halal/haram" in carrying out their duties which have led to qualified and capable entrepreneurs not getting the funding opportunities and unqualified pretenders getting it. These funds are then lost as the unqualified entrepreneurs are not able to sustain the business they did not think of in the first place. The modus operandi currently is therefore how to siphon the funds rather than how to develop successful entrepreneurs.
This situation has contributed to the decadence of the Malay and Islamic society and community as "Duit Haram yang berleluasa sekarang diberi kepada anak dan bini untuk makan bersama dan menjadi darah daging mereka" as they are eating "hak orang lain".
Kalau orang Melayu sudah tak takut Allah SWT dengan memakan duit haram sebab nak kaya cepat then we as a race are destined to follow the footsteps of the once mighty Islamic Ottoman Empire which collapsed due to greed, lust and lack of conformance to the religion of Islamic. Nauzubillah, but it will happen if we don't wake up and repent!
Sdr Ramlan,
DeleteYou hit the nail spot on, sir. I took the liberty of expanding on the issue in a special post here: http://newentrepreneursmalaysia.blogspot.com/2013/05/dilema-usahawan-melayu-bahagian-2.html
Sdr Ramlan Ahmad, you get the points. Proposals and projects are being hijacked for their own interest. I always say if Bill Gate, Steve Job, etc are Malaysian they will end up become employees to the Who they are with power and authority in Malaysia. We can cry but somebody is laughing. I wish Sdr Yazdi's idea be supported because in this world of internet we dont really need big office building and big staff. In fact we can share resources, expertice and facilities. Tapi perasaan dengki, tamak dan gila kuasa telah menjadi sebati dengan orang orang kita. Any where, good luck and all the best.
ReplyDelete